Daily Reading & Meditation

Thursday (October 30): "Blessed is he who
comes in the name of the Lord!"

Scripture: Luke 13:31-35

31 At that very hour some Pharisees came, and said to him, "Get
away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." 32 And he said to
them, "Go and tell that fox, `Behold, I cast out demons and
perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my
course. 33 Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and
the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish
away from Jerusalem.' 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the
prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I
have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood
under her wings, and you would not! 35 Behold, your house is
forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say,
`Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'"

Meditation: When your security is threatened and danger
strikes do you flee or stand your ground? When King Herod, the
ruler of Galilee, heard that thousands of people were coming to
Jesus, he decided it was time to eliminate this threat to his
influence and power. That is why some of the Pharisees warned
Jesus to flee from the wrath of Herod. Jesus, in turn, warned them
that they were in greater spiritual danger of losing both soul and
body if they refused to listen to God and to his messengers the
prophets. Like John the Baptist and all the prophets who preceded
him, Jesus posed a threat to the ruling authorities of his day.

Do not fear those who oppose God
Jesus went so far as to call Herod a fox. What did he mean by such an expression? The
fox was regarded as the slyest of all animals and one of the most
destructive as well. Any farmer will tell you how difficult it is
to get rid of foxes who under the cover of night steal and
destroy. The fox became a symbol of what was worthless,
insignificant, and destructive. It takes great courage to stand up
and openly oppose a tyrant. Jesus knew that he would suffer the
same fate as the prophets who came before him. He not only
willingly exposed himself to such danger, but he prayed for his
persecutors and for those who rejected the prophets who spoke in
God's name. Do you pray for your enemies and for those who oppose
the gospel today?

Jesus came to set people free from sin and to give them new
life
Jesus contrasts his desire for Jerusalem - the holy city and
temple of God - with Jerusalem's lack of desire for him as their
long-expected Messiah. Jesus compares his longing for Jerusalem
with a mother hen gathering her chicks under her protective wings.
Psalm 91 speaks of God's protection in such terms: He will
cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find
refuge (Psalm 91:4). Jesus willingly set his face toward
Jerusalem, knowing that he would meet certain betrayal, rejection,
and death on a cross. His death on the cross, however, brought
about victory and salvation, not only for the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, but for all - both Jew and Gentile - who would accept
Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Open the door of your heart to the Lord Jesus
Jesus' prophecy is a two-edged sword, pointing to his victory over
sin and death and foretelling the destruction of Jerusalem and the
dire consequences for all who would reject him and his saving
message. While the destruction of Jerusalem's temple was
determined - it was razed by the Romans in 70
A.D. - there remained for its inhabitants a narrow open
door leading to deliverance. Jesus says: I am the door;
whoever enters by me will be saved (John 10:9).

The Lord Jesus opens the way for each of us to have direct access
to God who adopts us as his children and who makes his home with
us. Do you make room for the Lord in your life? The Lord is
knocking at the door of your heart (Revelations 3:20) and he
wishes to enter into a close personal relationship with you.
Receive him who is the giver of expectant faith, unwavering hope,
and undying love. And long for the true home which God has
prepared for you in his heavenly city, Jerusalem (Revelations
21:2-4).

"Lord Jesus, I place all my trust and hope in you. Come make your
home with me and take possession of my heart and will that I may
wholly desire what is pleasing to you. Fill my heart with love and
mercy for others that I may boldly witness to the truth and joy of
the gospel through word and example, both to those who accept it
and to those who oppose it."

Psalm 109: 21-22, 26-27,10

21 But you, O GOD my Lord, deal on my
behalf for your name's sake; because your steadfast love is
good, deliver me!
22 For I am poor and needy, and my heart is stricken within me.
26 Help me, O LORD my God! Save me
according to your steadfast love!
27 Let them know that this is your hand; you, O LORD,
have done it!
30 With my mouth I will give great thanks to the LORD;
I will praise him in the midst of the throng.
31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy, to save him from
those who condemn him to death.

Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Jesus
foreshadows his triumphant entrance into Jerusalem, by Cyril
of Alexandria (376-444 AD)

"'And I tell you,' he says, 'you will not see me until you say,
‘Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.' What does this
mean? The Lord withdrew from Jerusalem and left as unworthy of his
presence those who said, 'Get away from here.' And after he had
walked about Judea and saved many and performed miracles which no
words can adequately describe, he returned again to Jerusalem. It
was then that he sat upon a colt of a donkey, while vast
multitudes and young children, holding up branches of palm trees,
went before him, praising him and saying, 'Hosanna to the Son of
David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord' (Matthew
21:9). Having left them, therefore, as being unworthy, he says
that when the time of his passion has arrived, he will then barely
be seen by them. Then again he went up to Jerusalem and entered
amidst praises, and at that very time endured his saving passion
in our behalf, that by suffering he might save and renew to
incorruption the inhabitants of the earth. God the Father has
saved us by Christ." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON
LUKE, HOMILY 100)

Scripture quotations
from Common Bible: Revised Standard Version of the Bible,
copyright 1973, and Ignatius Edition of the Revised Standard
Version of the Bible, copyright 2006, by the Division of
Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of
Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.
All rights reserved.

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